Fiona Middleton
Fiona Middleton is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Angela Griffin. The actress secured the role following an audition. She was sceptical that it would lead to much and initially presumed that the producers would keep her around for a short time. However, positive viewer reaction led to her role within the show being increased. She made her debut appearance in the episode broadcast on 14 December 1992.
Fiona is portrayed as ambitious, hard working, uncomplicated, and someone who lives for the moment. Griffin found the lack of information about Fiona's background to be a benefit, as it allowed her time to establish her character's personality. Fiona was introduced as the Street's new hairdresser, who took up a job at Denise Osbourne's salon, which she later purchased with the help of her brother Lee Middleton. Fiona also embarked on careers as a singer and a model, which helped to increase her confidence.
Fiona became best friends with Maxine Heavey during her time on the Street, and had a long on-off relationship with Steve McDonald. After breaking up with Steve, Fiona has a relationship with mechanic Tony Horrocks, which is complicated by Maxine's feelings for him. Fiona eventually becomes engaged to policeman Alan McKenna, but their relationship is tested by his dark persona and Fiona's affair with Steve's father Jim McDonald. Fiona finds out she is pregnant with Alan's child shortly before his departure. She reunites with Steve, who wants to help her raise her son, Morgan.
After six years of playing Fiona, Griffin chose to leave Coronation Street to pursue further acting roles, as she did not want to wait around for her next big storyline. On-screen, Fiona discovers that Steve has cheated on her with Maxine. She sells her salon and leaves Weatherfield with Morgan in September 1998. For her portrayal of Fiona, Griffin won the Most Popular Newcomer accolade at the 1st National Television Awards. Griffin reprised the role in June 2019, and made a brief cameo appearance on 21 August.
Casting
Following a guest appearance in fellow British soap Emmerdale, sixteen year old actress Angela Griffin successfully auditioned for the role of hairdresser Fiona. Singer Melanie Brown also auditioned for the role, before joining the Spice Girls. Griffin was initially contracted for a two-week guest appearance as Denise Osborne's assistant. She made her first appearance as Fiona on 14 December 1992, becoming the show's second black character to be introduced. Of her early days in the show, Griffin stated "I feel as if I've been lucky, I've been gradually introduced into the programme and have had a chance to get used to everything, whereas some actors come into Coronation Street and get thrown in at the deep end straight away."Griffin was initially sceptical that the part would lead to much, but the audience reacted well to the character and her role within the show was increased. Shortly after, Griffin gave up her studies due to her new workload. Griffin never expected Fiona to become a central character in the series and presumed producers would keep her around for a short time. Her brother also joked that she was originally a glorified on-set extra, which Griffin believed helped her remain grounded in her early years.
Development
Characterisation and career
Griffin admitted that she loved her character, and said she can be loud, yet quite reserved at times. She thought the writers could take Fiona in any direction as her background had not been revealed and viewers did not know "what makes her tick." Griffin told an Inside Soap writer that because very little was known about Fiona when she was introduced, she found it to be a benefit, as it allowed her the time to establish Fiona's personality. Griffin called Fiona "very uncomplicated" and a hard worker. She also said that Fiona just wants to earn her money and go out and have fun. Griffin further described her as someone who "lives for the moment and she has absolutely no hang-ups about what she does – or what she says!"In The Official Coronation Street Annual, Rob Sharp describes Fiona as a "cute crimper" who "certainly turned a few heads" when she starts working at Denise Osbourne's hair salon. He added "the prospect of a quick trim immediately became more alluring for the men of Weatherfield." Fiona is an "ambitious career girl" and since her move onto Coronation Street, her "fortunes soared" and she began managing her own business called Hair by Fiona Middleton. Fiona and her best friend Maxine Heavey both had distinct styles. A writer from Inside Soap profiled her stating "stylish hairdresser Fiona avoids the sex kitten look of her best friend Maxine, favouring autumnal shades and natural fibers, which she mixes and matches with aplomb." In 1997, Griffin believed that Fiona had changed so much "she was in danger of becoming a bit hard." Writers decided to show a "softer side" to Fiona by showing she can be vulnerable.
Producers lined up a second career for Fiona as a singer. When she outshines Maxine during drunken gig, Alec Gilroy notices her talent. He becomes her agent and secures her more shows. When Griffin learned of the story she was "terrified". She told Steven Murphy from Inside Soap that she was scared about singing in front of others and hired a singing coach to help her improve. She added "he just gave me the confidence to get up there, do it and not care." Fiona's gig was filmed on location and Griffin did not have time to do rehearsals and found the experience "daunting". The actress did not think that a singing career was right for Fiona because she had begun to achieve more in her hairdressing business. She added "I think she might get up and sing occasionally, but she won't do it full time."
In the wake of Steve's marriage, Fiona is offered a modelling job that was originally meant for Raquel Wolstenhulme. The offer boosts her confidence and brings her out of a depression. Griffin told Richard Arnold from Inside Soap that Fiona is "quite flattered" with the attentions she receives while modelling. She likes having the "ego boost that came along just when she was feeling unattractive."
When Denise decides to sell the hair salon, Fiona's brother Lee Middleton agrees to loan her the money to buy the business. She is eager to show her new found maturity by naming the salon after herself rather than creating a pun styled name. Griffin thought that her character was ambitious and buying the salon proved it. She sets herself goals and achieves them. Fiona feels great because she has always wanted her own Salon. Fiona admires fellow character and businesswoman Rita Sullivan. Griffin told Peake that Rita is "Fiona's role model if she can be as successful as her, she'd be very pleased." She also envisioned Fiona becoming a stronger character in the same way that Coronation Street had previously developed their "great women" characters. Fiona also has to deal with Maxine, who does not behave professionally at work. She continues to test Fiona's patience. Griffin concluded that "Fiona will just let her know who's in charge."
Relationship with Steve McDonald
After Steve McDonald breaks up with his girlfriend Vicky Arden, he decides to pursue Fiona. Gregson reckoned she was a good match for his character, as he needed someone he could have a good time with and who shared his interests. He also wanted someone who was not looking for a serious relationship. Gregson described Fiona as a female version of Steve, and said "She's a real woman of the Nineties who knows what she wants. She's also pretty streetwise, which Steve loves." Fiona and Steve's relationship is strained when she becomes fed up of playing hard to get, and then shows him up at a party. Griffin said Fiona is giving Steve "a run for his money" and that he is not sure how to react, as he has never met someone like her before. The actress also said that Steve treated Vicky badly, and Fiona will not put up with the same behaviour, which is why she was angry that he treated her as "an unpaid skivvy" at his party.Fiona makes plans to go on holiday with her friends without telling Steve. Griffin explained "Fiona is just out for a good time and the relationship with Steve is too much like hard work. Eventually she gets so sick of trying to keep out of his way that she opts for a trip to Tenerife and deliberately keeps him in the dark." Fiona's actions force Steve to realise that he really cares about her and he tries to stop her from leaving. He offers to take Fiona to Miami, but this causes her to break up with him before she goes to Tenerife. Griffin said that Fiona felt like he was bullying her into going on holiday with him and she will not put up with him ordering her around. Griffin thought that when Fiona returns from the holiday, she might realise how much she missed Steve. She also noted that Fiona obviously liked him or she would not be dating him.
Upon her return, Fiona is taken aback at how nice Steve is to her, so she feels that she cannot be mean to him. Her time away also made her realise that Steve had good intentions with the Miami tickets and he just wanted to spend more time with her. The couple become closer when Steve goes to Fiona for support, following a meeting with the probation services. Fiona was touched that he trusted her and in return she "made it clear that she's there for him." Griffin believed that when Steve is with Fiona he is unsure of himself, which she likes. The actress reckoned that Fiona was falling in love with him, which surprised her, as their relationship had not been serious to begin with. Griffin also said that her off-screen friendship with Gregson initially made their character's love scenes embarrassing to film.
When Fiona meets Steve's ex-girlfriend Vicky Arden, she immediately sees her as a threat to her relationship. Steve carries on gambling and it becomes clear that Vicky still has feelings for Steve. Vicky discovers that Fiona and Steve's relationship has been difficult despite them deciding to move in together. Steve promises to stop gambling but when he learns that Vicky has inherited £240,000, he gets back with her. When Fiona discovers that the pair are getting married, she turns to Des Barnes for comfort. This causes problems with her best friend Maxine, who has romantic feelings for Des. Griffin believed that Fiona was actually more annoyed at Steve for flaunting his relationship with Vicky in her presence than losing him. She concluded "I reckon she's had a pretty lucky escape."